Tool coating with colored patterns

ABSTRACT

A tool coating with colored patterns is attached to a tool, has a tool coating foundation having a surface and at least one colored pattern layer. The at least one colored pattern layer may form exquisite and colorful characters and figures and may be attached to any surface of the tool coating foundation instead of only flat surfaces of the tool coating body. Therefore the appearance of the tool is more attractive and a user can see the characters and figures of the tool coating and identify the tool easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool coating, and more particularlyto a tool coating with an exterior surface having colored patternsbonded to the surface without regard to the shape of the surface.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional tool such as a wrench used to turn a bolt, is usuallymade of metal and a handle that is covered by a tool coating. Thefunctions of the tool coating include but are not limited to improving aperson's grip on the tool, insulating the tool and decorating the tool.The tool coating usually has a shape and a feel to allow a user to gripthe tool safely, easily and comfortably.

Tool coatings are available in two basic types depending on how the toolcoating is fabricated. Tool coatings may be fabricated and applied bydipping the handle or handles of tool into a liquid plastic or polymermaterial, removing the handle or handles of the tool from the liquidmaterial and allowing a film of the liquid material covering the handleor handles to dry or cure. After the film dries or cures, a dipped toolcoating is formed on the tool. Alternatively, tool coatings may be madeby molding plastic or polymer material to form cast tool coatings.Dipped tool coatings have a shape similar to the handle or handles ofthe coated tool. However, the cast tool coating may be used to alter theshape of the handle.

To make tool coatings more attractive and identify the tools, coloredpatterns, letters, numbers, figures or any combination are printed on asurface of a tool coating. A conventional printing technique requiresthat the colored patterns, letters, numbers, figures or combination beprinted on flat surfaces instead of curved surfaces. Conventional toolcoatings have very few flat surfaces so printing on the surface of thetool coatings is difficult, especially when the colored patterns,letters, numbers, figures or combination be printed intricate and needprecision printing. Therefore, printing on tool coatings is oftenrestricted to flat surfaces of the tool coating. Printing the patterns,letters, numbers, figures or combination in color with conventionalprinting techniques results in poor quality, unfocused images so as theappearance of the tool coating is not attractive.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a toolcoating to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the invention is to provide a tool coating with coloredpatterns wherein characters and figures composed of a colored patternlayer of the tool coating are more colorful and distinct and make thetool coating look more attractive and beautiful.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a tool coating withcharacters and figures that can be positioned at any location on thetool coating. Consequently, the colored patterns, characters and figurescan be seen easily, which makes identifying the tool easy.

A tool coating with colored patterns in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a tool coating body, at least one colored patternlayer, and at least one optional composite layer.

The at least one colored pattern layer is applied to a surface of thetool coating.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of pliers with a tool coatingwith colored patterns in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional partial top view of a tool handlein FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a wrench with a second embodiment of a toolcoating with colored patterns in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a pair of pliers with a third embodiment of atool coating with colored patterns in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a pair of pliers with a fourth embodiment of atool coating with colored patterns in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tool coating with colored patterns inaccordance with the present invention is mounted on a handle (21) of atool (20), comprises a tool coating foundation (11), at least onecolored pattern layer (13), and an optional transparent film (19). Thetool coating foundation (11) has a surface (not numbered).

The at least one colored pattern layer (13) is soft and pliable, has afront (not numbered), a back (not numbered), a printed dye layer (17)and an adhesive layer (15), is attached to the surface of the toolcoating foundation (11).

The printed dye layer (17) has a front (not numbered) and a back (notnumbered) and may have colorful characters and figures.

The adhesive layer (15) is formed on the back of the printed dye layer(17), attaches the printed dye layer (17) to the surface of the toolcoating foundation (11), has a back (not numbered) and may be glue oranother adhesive. A releasable film may be removably mounted on the backof the adhesive layer (15). The releasable film may be releasable paperor other non-sticking synthetic film.

The at least one colored pattern layer (13) is attached to the surfaceof the tool coating foundation (11) by separating the releasable paperfrom the back of the at least one colored pattern layer (13) andpressing the colored pattern layer (13) securely against the surface.

The optional transparent film (19) keeps the at least one coloredpattern layer (13) from being damaged and is a liquid compositematerial. The optional transparent film (19) may be applied by dippingthe tool handle (21) with the at least one colored pattern layer (13)into the liquid composite material or brushing or spraying the liquidcomposite material onto the at least one colored pattern layer (13).

With further reference to FIG. 3 a second embodiment of the tool coatingwith colored patterns in accordance with the present invention appliedto a tool (30) is a dipped tool coating and has a colored pattern layer(33).

With further reference to FIG. 4, a third embodiment of the tool coatingwith colored patterns in accordance with the present invention appliedto a tool (40) is a dipped tool coating and has two color pattern layers(43).

With further reference to FIG. 5, a fourth embodiment of the toolcoating with colored patterns in accordance with the present inventionapplied to a tool (50) is a cast tool coating and has a colored patternlayer (53).

The present invention has the following improvements.

1. The at least one colored pattern layer with colorful and exquisitecharacters and figures may be applied to any the surface of the toolcoating mounted on the tool to decorate the tool make the tool moreattractive.

2. The color pattern layers are soft and pliable so they readily conformto any flat or curved surface of the tool coating body. Therefore, thecharacters and figures of the colored pattern layer may be placed at anydesired position on the tool coating body.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description together withdetails of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosureis illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially inmatters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principlesof the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad generalmeaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A tool coating with colored patterns comprising: a tool coatingfoundation having a surface; and at least one colored pattern layerbeing soft and pliable, attached to the surface of the tool coatingfoundation and having: a front; a back; a printed dye layer having afront and a back; and an adhesive layer formed on the back of theprinted dye layer to attach to the surface of the tool coatingfoundation.
 2. The tool coating with colored patterns as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a transparent film applied to the at leastone colored pattern layer to keep the at least one colored pattern layerfrom being damaged.